NH Foods processing facility Borthwicks meatworks at Bakers Creek near Mackay has recommenced operations on Tuesday after ex-TC Debbie’s impact last week.
The abattoir closed its business last Tuesday as Cyclone Debbie made landfall near Airlie Beach.
Borthwicks livestock manager Malcolm Kinman said the meatworks lost power for a period of time and its processing facility suffered minor damage.
“What was left in the cold rooms before Cyclone Debbie was processed on Monday and we commenced a normal processing shift on Tuesday,” Mr Kinman said.
“There was only minimal structural issues for the Borthwicks processing plant with trees and branches causing some damage during the extreme winds and storms.
“We lost power for only eight hours, so we were fairly lucky during the cyclone activity this time.”
Mr Kinman said it has been difficult contacting many of their cattle producers who supply the processing facility due to erratic mobile telephone coverage at present.
“Some of the roads in the region are badly damaged and transporting cattle could be difficult in the short term,” he said.
Borthwicks mostly draws cattle for their processing facility from northern areas such as Bowen and Proserpine, plus southern areas around Sarina.
At present, Borthwicks hopes to maintain a “small” processing shift each working day this week.
“Numbers will be reduced during the processing shifts, but I think we will battle through until this Friday,” Mr Kinman said.